Interleaving apparatus



R. W. BAILEY INTERLEAVING APPARATUS Jan. l, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1945 IN VE TOR M5@ ATTORNEY Jan l, 1952 R. w. BAILEY INTERLEAVING APPARATUS 4 *Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1945 E W U VENTOR BY ATTORNEY Jan 1, 1952 R. w. BAILEY 2,580,379

INTERLEAVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 4I Y INVENTOR @MM/a5 ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1952 R. w. BAILEY 2,580,379

INTERLEAVING APPARATUS Filed DSC. 29, 1945 /Wr/Y. 14.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. l, 1952 INTERLEAVING APPARATUS Richard W. Bailey, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Milo M. Harding, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 29, 1945, Serial N0. 638,222

4 claims; (o1. 1v1-419) This invention relates toV interleaving apparatus for use with mimeographs, printing presses, or other duplicating machines.

It is known to provideaparatus for` inserting Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a diierent operating position of the parts;

sheets of suitable material between successive 5 Figure 5 is a detail vertical section taken subfreshly printed pages or leaves as they are destantially as indicated by line 5-5 of Figure 2; livered by duplicating apparatus for preventing Figure 6 is a detail elevation showing the parts blurring, smearing and the like of the Aprinted Of Figure 5 in a DOSiiiOn t0 receive the book 0f matter, as well as to prevent any transfer of such sheets; matter to the back of the succeeding page. It is Figure 7 is a cross section taken as indicated by an object of this invention to improve and simline 1-1 of Figure 6; plify such apparatus. Figure 8 is a bottom plan view, on an enlarged It is another object of this invention to provide scale, of the slip sheet book and support means, interleaving apparatus capable of successful optaken as indicated by line 8-8 of Figure 1; eration at a higher speed than heretofore practie- Figure 9 is a fragmentary section, taken as inable. dicated by line 9-9 of Figure 5;

it is preferred that the slip sheets be auowed Figures 10 and 11 are views Similar to Figure 9, to drop on the freshly printed sheets, and for showing successive Operating DOSOIlS assumed by this purpose the sheets are sometimes supported the SllpDOrtrlg finger; above the printed sheets and released one by one Figure 12 S a View Similar t0 Figure 3, but With to fall by gravity. It is another object of this invention to provide improved supporting means for this purpose, as well as an improved sheet for cooperating therewith.

It is another object of this invention to provide support means for the sheets which exerts a snap action on the sheets as they are released, to accelerate the downward movement of the sheet.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for guiding the'sheet which does not substantially impede the free downward movement thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide interleaving apparatus having improved support means for the group or stack of slip sheets, which facilitates the loading of the book thereon.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a considerationof several embodiments of the inventionl For this purpose two forms are shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specication, These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best dened by the appended claims.

VIn the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus incorporating the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale,

taken substantially as indicated by line 2-2 on Figure 1;

the supporting nger in position illustrated in Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a similar view showing another operating position of the supporting nger;

Figure 14 is a vertical section similar to Figure 5, but showing a modiiied form of the invention;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary transverse section taken as indicated by line |5-I5 on Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a cross section on an enlarged scale taken as indicated by line ifi-I6 on Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a View similar to Figure 14, but illustrating the loading operation; and

Figure 18 is a View similar to Figure 3 but showing the operating mechanism arranged for the modied form of Figure 14.

Referring to that form of the invention shown in Figures l to 13 of the drawings, the slip sheet apparatus is indicated generally by the numeral I, and is shown in Figure 1 as arranged for use with a conventional mimeograph or duplicating machine 2, shown by broken lines. The apparatus I comprises a base 3 providing a table surface for the reception of the mimeographed pages from the mimeograph 2. A plurality of sheets or leaves 4 of suitable absorbent material, for example light cardboard, are supported above the table 3 for release successively to drop on each page after it has been delivered by the mimeograph. The sheets 4 are maintained assembled in a group or what is known in the art as a book, 5, by means of a wire loop or staple 6 accommodated in suitable openings (-a in each sheet (Figure 8). The openings 6a are of such size that the sheets are freely slidable along the loop 6, which is of such length that the sheets 4 may drop to the table 3.

ment about itspivotubyan eccentric Q -ausually provided for operating-the paper ifeed'ijnfohansm v"10 of the machine 2. A link or connecting rod 3 serves to connect the lever 'l to the free end of the arm s. In this way an absorbent sheet 4 is released each time a freshly printed page*'isd'elivered by the machine 2.

I lo It is of course necessary that the relea se o f th e sheets 4 be timed to occur properly with respe :t

to the delivery of the printed pages?r Vtitlilsonrie? I types of duplicating machines, proper syncliroriif ;-s zation is obtained by arranging that the appaingmovement on the link 8 as' -ind'icatedfbyv the arroW- in Figures l and; a

shown in Figures 1 to 13 is of this typ'e, other types of duplicating machinesgprope'r s yn` chronization may requirethat thesheets-'t bere ieased'in response to spun on tneffunkt. This merely requires that all rotatingiparts in the ap- 'l paratusnow to be describedA be arranged toro-' Q tate in the opposite direction from that shown., 30

Furthermore, -therndiedvorin or` Figui-es 14` to 18 is arranged to operate in this manner', tha t' i to release sheets in response to a pullonthe link 8, but either formfcanbeconstructedffforcperae a5 tion in either direction'; Y

AS a means' 0f Supporting the sheets s, nl@

base 3 is provided witha vertical post IQ lextending upwardly pastorie 'side ofthe book Eland having an arm II overhanging the bool; sheets 4 prior to their release are suspended from the arm II by `a` depending member I'Z'rotatablymeans of ball bearing elements l3 carriedifi-n af suitable vrace I4 formedl on 'the' upper sid'e'of tarm`V I I and engaging a shoulde'rgl member I2 (see Figure 2). Thel lower end of the member I2 with aY diametrical SlOtIZ-aandhasa` lfinger- 2i! pivoted thereinby means of a pin) 2l toexterd` iii opposite directions transverselythereof to su'p'-y port the sheets 4, as shown in Figure 5.1Assho'wn '70 in Figure Srthe sheets4 each haveza central' apere"A ture 4a to accommodate the ',memberlz, the rin-.- v ger 20 normally extending transversely below. the.' aperturefa, Y f

To permit the placing of the sheets on the.

member I2, therlngerZD is adaptedtobe swung,

supportedadjacent thefreeendof thela'riri l I by 5 formedl cn.. the

is provided to a vertical position .in an upwardA extension1- IZ-bcf theslot I2`-a, fromwhichit projectsbut slightly beyond the surfaceci themembenlz., as

shown ijn Figures 6 and '1. To ,ma'ntaintne if? sheets`4 against undesirable ,loosenes s and to urge' them into cooperative 'relation Winn 'Queenger 2B, a'weight 22,` wl'iiclrrnay` conveniently b e aL metal washer', 'is freely s lidable on the member i2..

As shownin Figure, the finger 204 whenfinflad) receiving position projects just enoughfrom, the

member I2 to' keep the weight dr opp in` g f As shown in Figure 8, the opening d -aisintersectedby a slot '4gb adaptedjuponappropria' movement of the nnger '201 in to alignmentither with to permit the sheet to pass over the nger. In order to drop but one'sheet ata time'ftheslots in successive'sheets are angularly misaligned,` and f the member I2 is moved'to`advanceprogressivelyf' shee'tfto adhereto the other sheets, and further rsince the 1arge.= sur fag eof the sheet and its light weightfcaus,BS it totali rather slowly.

Forthis purpose, the opposite ends of the iinger ZSYa're'frxd 'with oppositely directed lateral extensions 2Q-A forming surfaces 23-0l which are spaced above the surface 23 of the ringer by a distance somevI/hatgreaterv than thethickness o r a singlesheet4` (see Fi gur e9 Thus, the iin ger 2! moves into alignment Vwith the slot, the lowermost sheet drops to surface 23, the remaining sheets being supported above it and free therefrom on surfaces v23-a.

To impart a snap action to the sheet 4 to accelerate lit downwardlyupon release, the finger 20 has additional `extensions 20-bl opposite eri-,

tensions 204e and whose upper suface'is flush with the face 23 of the nger.' The ends of the finger are thus widerr than: the slot, as shown for` 'V example in Figures 10 and12. Furthermore, the bottom surface 24 of the finger is inclined upwardly to intersect the surface 23-a and form an advancing edge ZBadapted to'enter the space between the lowermost sheet 40 and the sheet 4I next above as shown in Figure 10.

In Figures 1, 2, 5 and 8 the nger 2li is shown in what'may he termed conveniently anormal position, that is the position it occupies after releasing one sheet 4 and before starting to re lease 'the'nextsheet As will appear presently,

there is another normal position-(Figure i3) at right angles thereto. v In the position Figures 5 i and8, the lugsY 2li-.a extend through the slot 4-19V of the bottomwsheet 4, this sheet resting on the nger suriace`23, thesheets thereabove being supported independently. off the lowest sheet, on the surface23-afisee Figure 9).

As the finger 20 isadvanced to the right (Figure 9), or clockwise "(Figure 8) by the operating lever 1, the edge 25 enters between the sheet 43 I and the sheet 4I thereaboveand deflects .that portion of the `sheet40"'adjacentthe slot 4 2). slightly downwardly,A since the sheetAil is still supported'on theI surface 23 (see Figure 10)... Continued ,movementci the .ringer .20 causes' the trailingf'edgefAtleQ-surfacel23 'to pass Vinto' t he slot "4'b,` so t'h'atfthe V sheet 4i). islno longer supported and. consequently is released, to ydropfloy gravity. k In this Way. the'lovverfsheet is'pos'itively separated from the remaining 'sheetsandf'the.` slight twist'ordeflection impartedtc the sheet '40 bythe finger just priortofrelease, causesthe sheet to snap downwardly'fwhen.released` froni. the surface.. 2 3,'"thus v accelerating its downward movement.

After releasing the sheet ...40, thengercontinues to move with the sheet 4I supported on L surface 23e-a (see Figure 1 1) until extensionsZa enter kthe slot4`c` in 'sheet' 4I (see Figure 13),. when the sheet 4I' dro'ps to vsurface23 and the' 'sheetf l42' thereabove restsl'fon .the surface 231-11'. Movement' of "the ng'er2 I'I nowV ceases, the finger l as the sheet drops.

being its'othernorm-al position'previouslyl mentioned, and all' parts are ready for another 'l is provided in the arm ll for engaging an openv ing'3l in the sheets 4. This guide 36 extends only a short distance below the height at which the linger 20 is located, so that the sheets fall free of the guide soon after release as it is important that they not be retarded.

The loop 5 is not'relied on to position the sheets 4 forcooperation with the nger 20, the opening 6a being of such size as to insure that other cycle of operations.

as to prevent reverserotation when the lever 1 is returned to its initial position. Thus, upon return movement of the lever 1, the pawl 68 rides over the next tooth on` the wheel 51 and into engagementl therewith,`readying the parts for an- Stop pins 65 and 56 may be provided for appropriately limiting the` angular movement of the arm 1. The arrangement is such kthat angular movement of the shaft 53 in an amount equal to the angular spacing of the Adetent depressions 58 will advance the linger 26 by an amount equal to the langular misalignthe sheets are not retarded by engagement with the binder, and'hen'ce being incapable of maintaining the sheets positionedY with the required accuracy. The binder loop 6 merely serves to maintain the sheets 4 assembled in a convenient group or book 5 and to facilitate their removal when desired from between the printed pages.

Infaddition to the previously mentioned apertures in th-e sheets 4, additional apertures, as d-d, Figure 8, may be provided to reduce the resistance Similarly, the corners may be removed as 'indicated at 4-e.

The mechanism by which'movement or" the operating lever 1 imparts angular advance to the member |2 and finger 20 will now be described. A sprocket is secured on the member 2 to rotate therewith, within the hollow arm Il, and is connected by a drive chain 5| with a sprocket 52 secured on a vertical shaft 53 rotatably supported within the `post l0 as by bearing structures 5-5 and 55 respectively adjacent opposite ends of the shaft 53. The base 3 defines a covered space 56 for accommodating the lever 1 and into which the shaft 53 extends (see Figure2).

A ratchet wheel 51 is secured on the shaft 53 within the space 56 and has a plurality of depressions 58 onits upper Vface for cooperation with a spring pressed ball or detent 59, which by engagement with a recess 58 serves to releasably position and restrain the shaft 53 vagainst rotation. A pawl Ell-for the ratchet wheel 51 is pivoted at the outer end of a lever BI which is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 53 for free angular movement with respect thereto. A

light 'spring indicated at 52 serves to urge the pawl 60 to engage the wheel 51.

The operating lever 1 is pivotally mounted in the space 56 at its inner end on a threaded post 63 projecting downwardly through the base 3, and projects out of the base through a slot 3-a for connection to the operating link 8. Intermediate its ends, the lever is pivoted to one end of a link 64, the other end of which is connected to the free end of the lever 6|. Thus, as the lever 1 ls moved downwardly from the position shown in Figure 3 to that showin in Figure 4, the pawl 60 by engagement with one of the teeth on the wheel 51 advances the wheel in a clockwise direction through an angle corresponding to that separating adjacent depressions 58. Thus, the detent 59 is forced out of engagement with one depression 58, riding on the upper face of the wheel 51 until the advance of the wheel is completed when it drops into the next depression 58. This serves to accurately determine the angular position of the shaft 53 and particularly that of the nger 20 which is controlled thereby, as well ment ofthe slots 4-b and 4-c in the adjacent sheets 4'."

' The operation of the apparatus may now be discussed. The slip sheets 4 having been previously assembled in a book 5, on the loop 6, the finger 2|! is turned about its pin 2| to extend vertically, as shown in Figure 6, and the sheets 4 are slipped over the linger and the member 2 to engage the weight 22. The sheets 4 and the weight 22 are pushed upwardly until the nger 28 is cleared, when the nger 20 is returned to its horizontal position, and the sheets 4 allowed to rest thereon, as shown in Figure 5. The loop 8 is of such length as to rest on the base and is positioned to extend generally vertically. As previously mentioned, the loop 6 is primarily for the purpose of maintaining the sheets 4 in a book or group 5, but it does serve to limit horizontal .displacement lengthwise of the sheets, as the sheets are dropped. Furthermore, a plate 88 is provided on the base 3 to cooperate with the post I6 to locate the sheets transversely as they fall to the base. Operation of the lever 1 to advance the nger' 28 in a step by step manner will then release successive sheets 4 as previously explained. In Figures 14 to 16 =amodii`1ed form of support forthe book 5 of sheets 4 is shown, including a vfinger member 1B which supports and releases the sheetsA inthev manner previously discussed, but which is arranged to facilitate the loading of the sheets on the support.

As shown in Figures 14 and 17, the finger member 1U is formed of a pair of identical elements 1| and 12V normally Vprojecting oppositely from the depending member 13 and mounted in a through slot -13-,a therein for independent pivota1 movement, Aby pins 14 |and 15. The upper surface of the slot 13-a provides a surface 13-b adapted to be engaged by the inner ends of the nger elements 1| andA 12 to limit downward movement of the ngenelements and maintain them in sheet supporting position (see Figure 14). The slot 13-a has opposite, upward extensions r'I3-c and 13-d to permit the nger elements 1| and 12 to swing upwardly to a position in which they will freely enter the apertures ll-a in the sheets 4 (see Figure 17). Thus, when it is desired to place fa book 5 on the member 13, it is only necessary to align the apertures 4-a with the member 13, and pass the sheets upwardly over the member 13, the fingers 1| Iand 12 being lifted to a position in which they will clear the apertures. The book 5 is passed upwardly to a point above the fingers 1| and 12, allowing them to drop to the positions of Figure 14, when the book 5 may be lowered to rest on the ngers.

To insure against the possibility of the fingers 1| and 12 remaining in their lifted positions after the upward passage of the sheets 4 pass them, small leaf springs 16 and 11 are secured at the bottom of each slot extension 13-c and 13-d, as by a rivet 18. These springs 16 and 11, by engagement with the fingers 1| and 12 respectively,

sions; 1 .1 -arend... witnsurfaces-.l ande 8:1. ,'Jf'rhusfthefnnecr ber 10 When supporting a book 5 of sheetsi; serves in; responsegbo;ltlatbnfiofiheimemher 1D. 5 to separate f; thegsbeets '.onessat.. astimelfromethe 'oookw andfrreleasef-.and accelerate. ,them-#dname wardlyfin the samexymannemas before:

However; as clearly shoyvnnn 1.4. .and 15, the.,raisedfsurfacesare -sofpositonedstliatse aration and release. ;of .the' sheetsiA-occursgn fresponse. :to rotationof thezffmemberfn aacounte clockwise direction looking. .upwardlyi `from .-fthe bottom. of- `the member; si To obtainlsuch. coun-1 ter-clockwise, rotationj ..it is only-f necessary.v .fito reverse thepavvl and; ratchet mechanisn-t isi- 4f: can Ybe done. readily; byf turning4 tneratche wheel 57 other side up from .fthe iposition shownfriniF ure .3 and. positioningstheipawlfon lthesother side .of the. operatingaleverflr: Such-positioning y39 of the parts: isshown. 4i-nzFignre 18. :'Underflthes'e conditions'the Vapparatusfl .isca-used-to delivlena sheet in response .to apul1onthe vconnecting rod.`

1. In a slip sheeting? yapparatussfa-:fsupport vfo a book of* slip sheets;.comprising-meansaprovid ing-aqoairA of verticallyspaced'upwardlyfacing-r` l surfaces of limited area;-lsuccessive-esheetsf'of sa-ideif book havingangularflymisal-igned openingsveth means providingtheupperof said surfaces-being adapted lte extend- Athrouglfi4 tl-1e" opening--in the'v bottom sheet to support the sheets#thereaboverff the bottom :sheethrestingsonthefsfother lsurface,N4 y Y, andZ mea-ns for -releasingetlierbottomf'sheet: 4 5

2. In a-s1ip.slieeting apparatus,ardepenclingMm movable yfmembercarrying r`a l projecting r:fingers having V-astepped surfaceefor 1 supporting-nasbookof slip .sheets with l'the vlcwerslfieet spaced.i there'i below,. .successive fsheets;fhavingf-Uangularly mis---=50 aligned slotsfeach slot beingadap'ted te passgthe ngerupon -alignmenlf-ofV` the-finger withal-tbe slot,-"* j said .ngerihavingi al-tapered advancing-edgefior positively.-.separatingssaid loiiver-f.sheetsfroin'fthe l boolcin response .-tosmovement-of saidmembe ffy? r portingv .a bookfcf `Vslipsllieeis;v each, of: said sheetsvl i having a; slotlcapableof Vpassing .saidfngerfnpon .the .rearlfed'ge ofthe :slot-.is .stillisuppor-tedto dis- 3. In .ai .slip .sheetng-zapparagusi'fa, depending. .a movablefllember-v .carnyingr a, progectu-ig :klingen providinaagstepilfcl supporting snrfaceffor sup alignment ,of said ngerggand-.saidslottthaslots. in successive sheetsabelng misaligne,dfther upp'e of saidisurf aces havingafwidth tsubstantially.less` and...release the. .flower sheet fforsnpport. on the lower surfaca. r-the; total"..vszidthlpiV saidastepped, surface exceeding tnerwidthpf `vsaid.sl,ot, means restraining:y movement of l.tnefsheetsetvitln-{sl'li member, said ngerf. havinglan gadvancingQ-edge andeaidownwardlyzfdecreasing.widtlrwhereby al- Vance.: fof :the finger.; urges ,thateportionpf the sheet adjacent thefforwardf-.edge of.tlievsloe downe. ward1y.= .While thatyportionlof. the sheet adjacent tortn the. sheet;furtheremovement 5ptY the finger serving'I :to release the sheettamil-1allows-.iis to snap downwardI .to relieve `tlnefdistoltion. .i

4. In a'. slip. sheeting .Yapparatusf angerlprom. `.viding v.a pairleof ksteppedf:upwardly-1facing. snp-f.y porting siiracesmeansfmounting said.leringen. for-:

advancing `n;ovement'r.:the. bottomref said-anger being...sgbstantially .-narrowen zthan-. saidfsurfaces to provide al. .tapered advancing. edge; said..nger being adapted to supporta slottedsslipvsdheetzon the lower.V iof. Said surfracesi,,meansor:advancing:1-

said ngerf vmeans restraining'saidsheet against.: 1.

movement. with said: finger.; the.-,.vv'idt1l.ofV s aidfslot being Vless than the width lof. said ysuriaces., :where-f by advancing mpvementot saidngervcausessaid advancing. elgeto i flex at11e.s-heetei .dowrnvardly; before the. sheet: is released byl s aidylower.,I 'surf-aceand. .subsequently .causes said .slower-lsurface rfte release the sheet.`

BAILEY. v

REFERENCES femenil' The following references. are: fof: f recordin the.` le of this'fpatentf: 

